Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-10-13

NJ. Lienard stood near the door listening to
this conversation.
"And, besides, accident also caused a par-
ticular mark on some of the notes. As I was
counting bundle of notes. an employee acct
dentally upset my ink and it stained ten or a
dozen OF them, all in nearly the same place,
on the right"
"That is precious" murmured Lienard.
THE books prove all this young man says
said Ricordot, discontentedly. "Now show
US those Of to-day"
Finally, after Ricordot had examined the
entries OF the preceding day and that of the
last hour, and had held whispered con-
yersation with M. Lienard, the latter said to
Laroque:
/ "Ricordot has examined your books. He
sees, what we knew, that your affairs are in
very bad condition, and that day before
yesterday, yesterday even, you could count
upon nothing but hazard to save you from
| your embarrassment
"That is true, sir" said Laroque. sadly. II
Just missed bankruptcy but to-day / am safe"
"Ricordot noticed ON your books that
! yesterday you received an important sum-
one hundred thousand francs-and to-day
another entry of $4,000 francs, both paid in
| by you, without any indication from whence
they came"
"That also is quite true But what is your
object in this inquiryp
an. Laroque, win you answer frankly and
without hesitation some questions am about
to ask your
"You can count upon my frankness," said
Roger with noble simplicity II never lied
in my life"
"From whence came the $4,000 francs you
paid in to-day
81 won them last night at baccarat at the
Commerce club"
very well; we viii verify that And the
100000 francs of yesterday, the 29th?p
"Thcy were paid me yesterday by"-. He
stopped brusquely, as if a hand Of steel had
grasped his throat, checking his words He
had been standing, and the effect Of his agi-
tation was so great that he sank into chair,
and great drops of perspiration stood out on
his forehead. "My Godl' lie thought, "what
was about to sayl'
Il repeat my question, which you seem not
to have heard From whence came the
10000 francsl
Roger answered hoarsely: Il told you;
from the payment of debt"
"The name Of that person?'
"That does not concern you. l find your
question little indiscreet."
~ advise you to answer without subter-
fuge."
Il do not recognize your right to question
me, and l refuse As my cashier has fur
nished you with all the indications in his
power beg you to notice that it is IL o'clock,
and that my time is valuable"
"You do not seem to understand the gravity
of your situation"
Laroque seemed at first surprised, and then
al
"Where the devil do you find my situation
grave! What business of yours is it anyhow,
NJ Police Commissioner Lienardr'
sin that there exists strong presumptive
reasons that you are the murderer of Larou-
ette"
"What! hey? howg'
'You heard me.n
Laroque kept silent and seemed to pass in
mental review the words just addressed to
him, and looked from Ricordot to Lienard
and back. Then all at once the comic side of
such an occasion struck him and he burst into
laugh, so hearty, loud and prolonged that
the tears stood IN his eyes and his sides ached
81 should never have thought of that he
said as soon as he could control his mirth.
II am not here to inquire your opinion,n
said Lienard with great dignity, "but to ask
you certain questions, and to place you at the
disposal Of the court Of Versailles in case they
are not satisfactorily answered.
At this moment Ricordot went out, and in
few seconds returned with his hands full of
bank notes, which he began to examine atten-
lively while the conversation continued.
every well, though it humiliates mo to
have to defend myself from SO ridiculous an
accusation. But first l wish to know what
are your proofs against me-"
"They are of various nature, but am here
only to see if there is any suspicious account
Of money in your possession. Do you maintain
your affirmation that though your safe was
empty on the 2Sth, the importantsum found
in your possession to-day comes partly from
your winning at baccarat and the rest from
a paymentl You must prove what you say.n
II played last night from 10 TO midnight
with Baron de Cey, Leonce Dubois, and Gas
ton and Adolph Levallois'
"That is all right so far. But the 100000
francs brought in by you on the Goth of JULY
Again Roger turned pale. 81 have nothing
to add to my former answer. 1t was an I'M
expected payment of loan"
"The name of the debtorgn
Roger kept silent.
''Refect, this name is the proof that you
have told the truth, for it will be easy for us
to verify your statement Still no answer
SIN the name of your honorable house, your
own honor" Still no word 'In the name,
then, of your noble wife and your innocent
little child, whom you seem to forget, charge
you to speak,
One instant he stood with his lips apart. then
ne sank down, down, bending his great shoul-
ders under the weight of the burden he ac-
cepted.
81 cannot, l cannotl am lost, lostr
NJ. Lienard made gesture of impotence.
Then the expert arose and handed him, with
out word scrap Of paper wherein he had
written few words and six or seven bank
notes of 1000 francs each attached with q
pin NJ. Lenard turned toward Larooue.
$50 then,n he said, ''you refuse to speakT
II refuse answered he hoarsely.
"Your cashier just now gave us series of
numbers of notes which were received from
the country, and which were paid to Larou-
cite the 2Sth of July. After that payment
your cashier says nothing but gold remained
In your safe. How do you account for the
fact that the most of the numbered notes are
found to-day in your safer
"Impossiblel' said Roger, astonished.
"Look for yourself These notes were paid
to Larouette He was murdered and robbed
The notes you say you paid him were found
again in your hands. Now. according to you,
one of the persons from whom you won last
night, or the person who paid you yesterday,
must have killed and robbed Larouette."
sWhat follyln
"You persistr'
81 told the truth"
81 would gladly believe you, but at least
complete.your story. You see to what danger
you expose yourself an refusing"
Il am responsible"
"What reason is SO powerful as to cause
you to place your liberty, your very life in
danger!"
"Do not insist, said Roger.
"Let it beso The court Of Versailles will
perhaps be more fortunate than l. But one
other question When you were playing at the
club were all the players known to your
"The most of them, at least by sight. l
seldom go to the club and never play. If /
played last night it was with the hope that
some happy chance might enable me to win,
and so escape bankruptcy, dishonor and per-
hsps suicide"
Ricordot gave little attention to this dia-
logue. He new rose, and handed TO II.
Lienard another package of notes, pointing
to the corners which were all stained with
ink. NJ. Lienard was an old magistrate and
nothing surprised him. HIS face did not
change as he opened the door and called: IN
GuerT'ier, win you step here a momentTn
Jean did so.
PLEASE tell your employer what you told
US q short time ago regarding the ink spots y